Welcome to "Every Day with Christ." This is a space to share thoughts and insights about following Christ in everyday life. I will post Bible verses, personal experiences, and pictures. I hope that you will be inspired to share stories of how Christ is working in your everyday life.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Reflecting on Truths from 2007

By Charlotte K. Lowrie

Oh, the joy in knowing that Jesus is with us, as near as our breath, wise beyond comprehension, loving us without reservation, guiding, teaching, consoling, encouraging us in every single thing that we do. He is the perfect teacher, the perfect friend, the perfect Savior, the Holy Lamb of God.

Thinking toward a New Year and reflecting back on the past year, I take stock of my daily walk with Christ. Of the many, many truths that He has taught me during 2007, one truth in particular resonates with me, and that is to stop worrying. During the past months of writing two books, I learned much more about trusting the words of the Lord in Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV), excerpted here.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store way in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

It seems that no matter how much I’ve learned in the past about not worrying, there is always more to learn. I’ve learned that because worrying is one of those “human things,” it’s also one of those things that I have to give to the Lord over and over again. Despite my knowing for certain that He will provide for all of my needs, I still periodically fall back into my old habit of worrying about people, projects, and plans.

Most recently, I learned that when I worry, I lose focus on Jesus. When I fill up my mind with concern about a project or a task, there is no room for Him. And, predictably, I go my way instead of His way. And it’s at the end of “my” road that I need Him to step in and fix my mess. I’ve learned that if I stay on-focus with Jesus, all that I would otherwise worry about never becomes an issue of concern.

I’m reminded that it’s my job, my life’s work, to follow Jesus. The more I follow, the more my heart becomes like His heart. That change of heart represents true change, not simply a rote reminder to follow Him, but rather a change in who I am and how I respond to all of life’s experiences.

I’ve also been reminded that it’s not the approval of others that I work for, but rather I work for His approval—and that changes everything. The Lord reminded me that, “I didn’t call you to follow the crowd. I called you to follow Me.” Enough said. Human approval—whether it’s from the editor reviewing my latest book, or approval from my friends—means nothing in the Kingdom of God. What means everything is doing all work as unto Him.

I’m reminded that when I let go of my worries and minor obsessions and give them to the Lord, that He will give those situations back to me with His victory. Every time I give Him my worries, I can watch in awe as His perfect purpose is accomplished.

And most of all, I’ve learned again that on other side of worry is His perfect peace—now and always. Could I ask for more?

To Accept Jesus as Your Savior

There is only one way to gain life-changing joy and peace in your life, and that is by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. To accept Christ as your Savior, pray this prayer.
“Lord, I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus died for my sins on the cross and rose from the grave. I turn away from my sins. I ask You to forgive me and to be my Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
If you prayed this prayer, the next step is to find a Christian church and tell the pastor about your faith in Jesus. The church can guide you through baptism and your joyous growth in Christ.

Contact

Our Hope Is in Him

(c) Charlotte Lowrie

An Invitation to Contribute

If you have experiences from your walk with Christ that you'd like to share, please e-mail me your story. I can then post your text. All posts and articles are reviewed to ensure appropriateness for this forum. You can e-mail me at charlotte@everydaywithchrist.com.

John 8: 12 (NIV)

"...I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

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Psalm 84:10-11 (NIV)

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."

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Matthew 28: 19-20 (NIV)

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."